OKLAHOMA WRECKER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
300 SW 29TH
(405) 319-1724
2nd Quarter 2005 – Non-Member Newsletter
Dear Fellow Wrecker Operators:
It’s been some time since I have mailed a newsletter to non-members. The legislative session was very busy and I didn’t have time to work up a newsletter for non-members. The result is, starting November 1st, 2005, municipalities and sheriffs must have a rotation log (if there is more than one wrecker service on their rotation) and it must be made available to anyone requesting a copy. There will probably be a copy fee. Any request for a wrecker made by a law enforcement officer, whether by phone, cell phone, radio, or whatever means will be required to be logged on the rotation log. A wrecker operator may not be removed from rotation without due process. Also, wrecker operators are now allowed to use their warning lights while loading or unloading vehicles in close proximity to traffic or to warn of dangers on the roadway. This bill will go into effect November 1st.
Our other bill, SB621 was stopped by bankers and insurers. We are going to have another interim study this fall about insurance dumping. See why we need more names and more people involved to help get things passed that can help and improve our industry? The more voices we have, the more clout we have. It pays to join together. Let me tell you why.
SB 835 has passed the Senate and House and is waiting for the Governor’s signature. SB835 is a credit union bill and will make all garages, mechanics, individuals and “G” wreckers require a notification process before a title 42 can be performed. Fortunately, the OWOA was able to get an exemption from this for Class AA wreckers (thanks to our consultants at the Capitol and Sandra Fuller) and salvage pools. Salvage Pools and Class AA wreckers can perform title 42s under the same method as always (assuming this bill gets signed by the Governor). So I will give you a “freebee”. If you have any vehicles you have been sitting on building storage fees, you will want to perform the title 42 well before November 1st when this new law becomes effective. The credit unions and bankers have lots of clout and they have set it up so they have control over title 42s. See how important it is to have representation at the Capitol every year. Class AA wreckers almost ended up in the same fix as “G” wreckers. That would have devastated our businesses.
REMINDER
If you received this letter you are not listed as a member of the OWOA. Your dues have expired or you were never a member. Please consider this a special invitation to join our ranks and become a member of the OWOA and show your dedication to our industry. I know times have been hard and it’s not easy to come up with the dues amount in one lump sum. Fuel prices are soaring to new heights and insurance premiums have doubled and tripled. We have taken steps to help offset these fee increases and now we need help supporting our lobbyists. Please consider becoming a member.
We do take payments and if you can’t afford $13.50 per month to be a member, perhaps you should decide on a different profession. If you prefer to not receive this newsletter, please send me a note or fax a message or call my office and I can remove you from the mail list. The greatest advantage of being a member is that someone somewhere has been in a similar situation to a problem you are facing and may have the solution to your problem, or at least an idea where to start. It’s also nice to belong to an organization that will stick up for its members and help find solutions to problems.
Here is the REMINDER. If you are not a member you may not use the OWOA logo or insinuate or suggest that you are a member of the OWOA in any form. You may not use the Logo on your wrecker, office or any paperwork. You may not use the Logo on any invoice or letterhead or uniform. You may not suggest, insinuate, lead-to-believe, or any other manner or form that you are associated, affiliated, or related to the OWOA nor do you follow any guidelines set forth by the OWOA or any member of the OWOA. To do so is against the law and the OWOA will enforce its right to protect its Logo and trademark from this day forward. Other than that, have a nice day.
TRAA TESTING
I wanted to offer the TRAA test in mid-June but I have had some things come up and we won’t be able to offer it this June. I am now looking at mid-July. We will have another newsletter before then so I can find a place and exact date. The Sunday afternoon time seemed to work well for the last test. If you would like to sit for the next exam, please contact the OWOA for a study guide. Contact the OWOA at 405 319-1724 or fax at 405 631-3460. Email is at www.OkWOA.org. Snail mail is 300 SW 29th, Oklahoma City, OK 73109-6723. When you sit for the exam you will need 2 passport photos and a completed application. We can mail/fax an application to you. The test fee of $100 for Level One and $160 for Level Two (non-members test fees are $125 for Level One and $200 for Level Two) needs to be paid so we can send a study guide to you for the test you are taking. The TRAA also has audio tapes for Level One only. The tapes are an additional $25.00 and are not included with the Study Guide. If you want to listen to audio tapes, contact the OWOA and we will get them to you. When you are finished with the tapes (if you don’t want to keep them), the OWOA will buy them back from you for $20.00 as long as they are in resalable condition with the case and tapes. The study guide is yours to keep. If you are interested in this offer and have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the OWOA. We are offering this option to help you study for the test with the least cost.
Testing is nothing to be afraid of. It will prove your knowledge of your industry and there is no shame if you don’t pass the test the first time or so, after all, it’s been a long time since we have taken tests. No one is allowed to know your score on the test and you will know the results from mail, not me. If you don’t pass the first time (that is no shame to anyone and no one will know if you don’t tell) a re-test is only $50.00. If you take the test and are concerned about your performance (just so you will know, everyone is concerned they didn’t pass, it’s the same with the ASE tests also) you should get your study guide and mark the areas of concern as soon as you can after taking the test. Mark all the areas or items you remember just in case you need to take the exam again. It will also point out areas or terms that you aren’t real comfortable with and items you may need more practice/study to help you in your skills. This will help you just in case you do need to take the exam again. This is how fraternities and dorms get “study files” for test at college.
We will need a short Director’s meeting which will start at 6:40pm or so. We will meet at Santa Fe Cattle Co located at 1445 SW 74th in OKC. In OKC Southwest 74th is also I-240. The meal will start at 7:00 PM and the meeting will start at 8:00 PM. We will try to finish ironing out the accidental death insurance the directors approved and get it started. Hopefully we will never need it. There may be a representative from Nextel phones for those with questions. We also have a representative from an accounting firm that also handles Human Resources and sets up employee manuals, drug testing and other matter for small businesses. If you have any questions about employees or accounting, bring your questions for answers. The firm is McAbee & Company and they have offices in Oklahoma City and Clinton.
We also need to talk about what we need for our interim study and what data we need to collect. We also need to decide what areas we want to consider addressing in the next legislative session. You can’t start too early. I’m sure we will have some other surprises so please try to attend.
Please get involved. It’s like we used to say in the late 60’s and early 70’s (……yeah, and I’m older than that too!!!!), If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. I have heard lots of wrecker operators say they were going to join they just haven’t filled out the form. Fill it out today and mail your dues or your first payment. Thanks for reading the newsletter.
– Chris Puckett, President.
Next Meeting – South Oklahoma City
Santa Fe Cattle Co. – 1445 SW 74th, OKC, OK
Meal starts at 7:00 PM if you would like to dine out
Meeting starts at 8:00 PM
Have you been wanting to join but just haven’t filled out the form? Fill it out and mail it today while it’s on your mind.
OKLAHOMA WRECKER OWNERS ASSOCIATION
Please make checks payable to” “O.W.O.A”
300 SW 29TH - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 73109-6793
(405) 319-1724 – FAX (405) 631-3460
Company Name ______________________________________ DPS # __________ G AA
PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY
Owner/Contact Name _____________________________Position__________________
Adress__________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State ________ Zip _______________
Bus Pho ____________________ Fax ___________________ Other ______________
Email Address _________________________________________________________
Number of Wreckers __________ X $20 (Max 4) + $140.00 = $_________(Maximum $220.00)
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DUES ARE $200 PER YEAR – 12 MONTH PERIOD.
Amount of 1st payment $_______ Balance Due $______ in ___payments on _______ day of the month..
Dues are for a 12 consecutive month period. Dues must be paid in full in 12 months.
Senate’s Name __________________________ Representative’s Name _______________________
Associate Members $200.00 (Businesses without licensed wreckers &/or a DPS License)
1 wrecker = $160.00
2 wreckers = $180.00
3 wreckers = $200.00
4 or more wreckers = $220.00
Mail dues to: OWOA, 300 SW 29th, OKC, OK 73109-6793